The Renegade offense explodes midway through season

Bakersfield College’s pitching staff dominated the first few weeks of the baseball season, but recently, the Renegades have come of age behind the plate, creating balance and stability across the roster and leading the state in home runs.

To start the season, the pitching staff carried the load for BC at a time when the team’s offensive production was limited to just a few guys inconsistently stepping up in big moments. Lately, though, the team’s bats have come alive.

“It’s baseball, and things come and go,” coach Tim Painton said. “We’ve felt since the beginning of the year that we have a very good offensive club, and at times haven’t produced. But that’s the game of baseball.”

Painton points to the team’s March 6 win over College of the Canyons, when the offense put 18 runs on the board, as a stepping stone in the right direction.

“Hopefully that will jump start our offense a little bit and get us going to where we can get a little bit more consistent,” he said.

The team certainly got production when they needed it.

Second baseman Elijah Trail has been the teams most consistent player, but is relieved to see his teammates find their strive.

Trail said that his team leans on the long ball for the majority of their production

“Most of our lineup can put the ball out of the yard at anytime during the game,” he said.

BC’s offense is constantly swinging for the big hit. The offense is ranked 56th overall in the state with a mere 49 walks, but ranks first in the state with 15 home runs.